Investigation into Bình Định’s illegal logging expanded

BÌNH ĐỊNH — Vĩnh Thạnh District’s Forest Protection Division in the central province of Bình Định on Tuesday started criminal proceedings as part of a case in which nearly 107 cu.m of dổi (Michelia mediocris Dandy) timber was illegally logged in Vĩnh Sơn Commune.

On July 22 and 23, forest rangers, Sông Kôn Forestry Ltd Company and representatives from Vĩnh Sơn Commune People’s Committee inspected and detected 23 dổi trees which had been illegally chopped down in Zone 142 and 145 in the commune.

They also found evidence of timber logging and transportation.

About two kilometres from the path used to transport timber out of the forest, the investigation uncovered a tent with four hammocks, clothes, cooking tools, a residential book, a mobile phone and dozens of pieces of timber. The illegal loggers had fled the scene.

Vice chairman of the district People’s Committee Bùi Tấn Thành said the illegal logging was discovered after local residents reported the case and requested an inspection.

Zones 142 and 145 are far from the residential area, which caused difficulties for authorised agencies to investigate.

Thành said that agencies were searching for illegal loggers.

He said the case was under investigation and that any State-employees or officials would be punished strictly if they were found to have been involved in the illegal logging. — VNS